Pistorius trial: cricket bat, toilet door shown

Originally published March 12, 2014 at 3:32 am

Updated March 12, 2014 at 5:46 am

Oscar Pistorius listens to testimony in his trial in the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

A South African forensic analyst has said at the Oscar Pistorius murder trial that a cricket bat was used to strike the toilet door at the athlete's home, in testimony focusing on the events of the night when Pistorius fatally shot his girlfriend.

A South African forensic analyst has said at the Oscar Pistorius murder trial that a cricket bat was used to strike the toilet door at the athlete’s home, in testimony focusing on the events of the night when Pistorius fatally shot his girlfriend.

Police Col. J. G. Vermeulen on Wednesday lifted the bat in court and showed where it hit the wooden, bullet-marked door, another key piece of evidence that was erected in the courtroom.

Pistorius has said he shot Steenkamp by mistake, fearing she was an intruder in the night, and then bashed the door open with a cricket bat to get to his girlfriend when he realized what had happened. The prosecution says the Feb. 14, 2013 killing was intentional and followed an argument between the couple.